Whilst using a pressure washer appliance, a worker suffered a 240 volt electric shock.
After an investigation was carried out, it was found that the company responsible had not maintained the appliance as they legally should have done, they had not provided a safe system of work and had not informed the HSE of the existence of the factory.
The combination
of 240 volts of electricity with water makes this a very dangerous situation.
The company was prosecuted and fined under the Factories Act 1961 and the Electricity at Work Act 1989.
Cases like this one highlight the importance of PAT testing and how dangerous electricity can be.
It is important that all people responsible for the maintenance of appliances are aware of their responsibility and take active steps to comply with this legal requirement.
By keeping all businesses aware of the steps they must take to ensure appliance are safe for use, we can all be certain that workers are always safe.
Ensure that all your clients are aware of the dangerous possibilities of not getting PAT testing carried out on their appliances.
Make sure that all your equipment and accessories are up to the task by getting regular calibrations carried out.
